Brazil Was Eliminated on the Fourth Day of the World Judo Championship

Victor Penalber and Katherine Campos lost their fights and were eliminated from contention

Today was a bad day for the Brazilian judo. The half-middleweight athletes (- 81 kg and - 63 kg) did not manage to keep up their lightweight peers’ performances who competed in the beginning of the World Judo Championship of Rio de Janeiro. Being the first time when they took part in such a competition, Victor Penalber and Katherine Campos started well, but they were eliminated. The male judoka, who was leading the ranking before the World Championship, was applied in the quarter-final an ippon by the French Loic Pietri. Katherine has lost her second fight with three Shidos of the Dutch Anicka Van Emden.

Victor Penalber from Rio de Janeiro had a nice start, quickly winning his first two fights by ippon. However, the judoka could not fight at the same pace against Loic Petri.

\"Every time we lose, we use to think we didn’t do our best. The victory hides mistakes that always happen and come out with the defeat, which is why the competition was fair. Judo means the pursuit of perfection, we will never get there, but we have to get as close as possible,\" said Victor Penalber.

\"I was dreaming day and night with this competition. My first world judo championship on my home soil was something very special. I hoped and dreamed of a different result, but now I have to let my head drop, analyze the mistakes and fix them. “concluded Penalber .

Katherine Campos from Pernambuco won by ippon the first fight against the judoka Yennifer Dominguez from Guatemala. In the second fight, the Brazilian was not so lucky. The Dutch Anicka Van Emden managed to defend the fight until the end.

\"I knew it would be a very tough fight, she is one of the best female judokas of the world. The strategy had already been drawn, but I think I rushed at the beginning of the fight and I was penalized with a Shido because of a false attack. Unfortunately I could not score. Still, I\'m glad for having the opportunity of taking part in my first world championship. I feel that I have a lot to train and evolve. “said Katherine Campos.

Two other Brazilian athletes competed this Thursday (29/08). Fighting for Lebanon, Elias Nacif was defeated by Sergiu Toma, in the second fight.

\"I think I did not have a fair refereeing in the beginning, but this is not a reason for my defeat. I took two penalties early in the fight and, consequently, I had to change my fighting style and I had to open. This helped him get a wazari. I\'m happy even if I was defeated, I know that I am able to face any opponent, “said Elias Nacif .

Fighting for Portugal, Carlos Luz was defeated in the quarter-finals by the Russian Ivan Nifantov.

\"It was a tough fight against one of the best judokas in the world. I did my best, but unfortunately I could not win the fight. It is part of the sport, \"commented Carlos Luz.

The male semifinals will be disputed by the French Loic Pietri against the Mongolian Ungaanbatar Otgonbaatar. The Georgian Avtandili Tchrikishvili faces the Russian Ivan Nifantov. In the repechage the French Alain Schmitt, the Belgian Joachim Bottieau, the Austrian Marcel Ott and the Russian Ivan Voborev will compete.

Among the women, the competition will be disputed by the French Calrice Agbegnenou and Gevrise Emane, the Japanese Kana Abe and the Israeli Yarden Gerbi. In the repechage come Martin Trajdos from Germany and Anicka Van Emden from the Netherlands. The Japanese Miki Tanaki faces the Slovenian Tina Trstenjak .